Relic: Pendergast, Book 1

Just days before a massive exhibition opens at the popular New York Museum of Natural History, visitors are being savagely murdered in the museum's dark hallways and secret rooms. Autopsies indicate that the killer cannot be human. But the museum's directors plan to go ahead with a big bash to celebrate the new exhibition, in spite of the murders. Museum researcher Margo Green must find out who - or what - is doing the killing.

Non-Perishable

Even thought "Relic" was published 'way back in 1994, it still delivers plenty of thrills and excitement after all these years. In my opinion, that t..Show More »est of timelessness indicates a good novel. The plot of "Relic" had the potential to flop, since it tells an improbable monster story. But Preston/Child's excellent writing and thorough research facilitate our willing suspension of disbelief, rendering even the most far-fetched plot concepts scientifically plausible. "Relic" grips you right from the beginning, and doesn't let go until the end. The extended sequence in the dark catacombs under New York's Natural History Museum provides unparalleled suspense. "Relic," unlike most thrillers, has no primary hero, but, rather, three or four protagonists. However, it commences a wonderful series of intelligent thrillers featuring the brilliant, erudite, albino F.B.I. agent Aloysius Pendergast, introduced in this novel. David Colacci gives us an excellent reading of this audiobook. I highly recommend "Relic" to any thriller aficionado.

Reliquary: Pendergast, Book 2

Hidden deep beneath Manhattan lies a warren of tunnels, sewers, and galleries, mostly forgotten by those who walk the streets above. There lies the ultimate secret of the Museum Beast. When two grotesquely deformed skeletons are found deep in the mud off the Manhattan shoreline, museum curator Margo Green is called in to aid the investigation.

Should have made this one into a movie...

I really enjoyed "The Relic" but "Reliquary" was much better on so many levels. The writing is smart and scientific but I never felt lost. There is mu..Show More »ch more action in this novel than the Relic and the suspense is much higher. One of the better novels I've listened to

The Cabinet of Curiosities: A Novel

In an ancient tunnel underneath New York City a charnel house is discovered. Inside are 36 bodies all murdered and mutilated more than a century ago. While FBI agent Pendergast investigates the old crimes, identical killings start to terrorize the city. The nightmare has begun. Again.

Enjoyable, but not my favorite

The problem is most likely I've listened to all the subsequent Pendergast installments, then went back and listened to this one. If they'd been liste..Show More »ned to in order, it would probably have been much better.

It was nice to hear from some old friends and discover how Pendergast met Nora. I was disappointed that Constance wasn't included in this book more. I had assumed that this book explained more of how they met and they discovered each other. But, it wasn't there. Is there another missing installment??

Anyway, I was "grossed-out" at some of the situations, but I still couldn't stop listening. It was really gruesome. Even more so than others of this series. I suppose I can take death.. but suffering bothers me.

I was worried about the narrator. This being the 3rd in this series, but Mr. Marosz did a fantastic job. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to his books again.

Yes, I'd recommend it to all die-hard P&C fans, but understand, it is disturbing!

Still Life with Crows: A Novel

For the first time in unabridged audio! A small Kansas town has turned into a killing ground. Is it a serial killer, a man with the need to destroy? Or is it a darker force, a curse upon the land? Amid golden cornfields, FBI Special Agent Pendergast discovers evil in the blood of America's heart.

SCARY, WEIRD, ENGAGING

Preston & Child know how to push my "creepy" buttons. Very good.

I would choose a different narrator. Narrator David Colacci did a much bett..Show More »er job in "The Relic" - the first Pendergast novel.

Brimstone: Pendergast, Book 5

Art critic Jeremy Grove is found dead, his face frozen in a mask of terror. His body temperature is grotesquely high; he is discovered in a room barricaded from the inside; the smell of brimstone is everywhere... and the unmistakable imprint of a claw is burned into the wall. As more bodies are discovered - their only connection the bizarre but identical manner of death - the world begins to wonder if the Devil has, in fact, come to collect his due.

Be very aware of Pendergast

I would have to put this book in the top ten of all I have listened to so far.

Reviewed on December 16 2012
by Gary
(Colorado Springs, CO, United States)

Dance of Death: Pendergast, Book 6

Two brothers. One, top FBI Agent Aloysius Pendergast. The other, Diogenes, a brilliant and twisted criminal. An undying hatred between them. Now, a perfect crime. And the ultimate challenge: Stop me if you can.

Excellent story!

I've been listening to all of the Pendergast series, at least those that Audible have, in order. I must say that this was my favorite so far!

..Show More »>Preston and Child are maturing as writers and this book is outstanding! I could not stop listening! There is a very apparent similarity to Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series. There is our main hero, with many of the same characteristics of Holmes: intelligence, being misunderstood (due to his lack of communication), loyalty, his own brand of justice, sacrifice, kind of larger than life.. And we have Watson (though, our side-kick here is more competent).. Now, we're introduced to the story's arch-villian: "the most dangerous man in the world." More characters parallel.. but, are so much more human and vivid! We can identify with the characters and their failings. The story and plot are terrific, but the characters and their interactions, and the thrill-ride of action makes this story stand out as one of the best!

I've really enjoyed Mr. Brick as the narrator in these stories. He is even able to distinguish between 2 men with similar accents without being confusing. Perhaps, he's not as proficient with the English lady's voice, but it doesn't distract from the story.

All in all, this is an excellent thrill ride from end to end and I would highly recommend it to any wanting a great detective-pursuing-the-bad-guy type of book!

The Book of the Dead

The New York Museum of Natural History receives their pilfered gem collection back, ground down to dust. Diogenes, the psychotic killer who stole them in Dance of Death, is throwing down the gauntlet to both the city and to his brother, FBI Agent Pendergast, who is currently incarcerated in a maximum security prison.

Not bad

Although a bit predictable and formulaic, it's still an enjoyable 'read'. I might suggest, however, you read Dance of Death before reading this one. I..Show More »t gives you a good base for the characters.

The Wheel of Darkness

FBI Agent Pendergast has taken Constance on a whirlwind Grand Tour. They head to Tibet, where Pendergast intensively trained in martial arts and spiritual studies. At a remote monastery, they learn that a rare and dangerous artifact the monks have been guarding for generations has been stolen. Pendergast agrees to take up the search. The trail leads him and Constance to the maiden voyage of the Queen Victoria passenger liner - and to an Atlantic crossing fraught with terror.

Answer to two of the questions you might have ...

If you are an incarnated Preston/Child fan, you are most likely asking yourself: “Is it of the same quality as the Brimstone trilogy?”

It is yet another unputdownable page-turner from the dynamic Preston/Child duo – that seems to continue to write mega-hits together. In my opinion, they are much better together than when they write solo.

If you listen to this book while commuting to work, please be advised that you will find yourself sitting in the parking lot to hear “just one more chapter” after you have arrived.

This is how a thriller should be.

Your second question might be: “What were they thinking, when they decided NOT to use Scott Brick as the narrator?” In that case, I have more good news: Rene Auberjonois does a tremendous job.

Cemetery Dance

Captain Hayward leads the official homocide investigation, while Pendergast, D'Agosta, and Nora undertake a private quest for the truth. Their serpentine journey takes them into a part of Manhattan they never imagined could exist: a secretive and deadly hotbed of Obeah, the West Indian Zombii cult of sorcery and magic. And it is here they find their true peril is just beginning.

Not for the faint of heart OR animal lovers

I liked the beginning of this book, however the graphic nature and shear sadness of the animal cruelty really turned me off. Be forewarned some conten..Show More »t is hard to take.

Fever Dream

At the old family manse in Louisiana, Special Agent Pendergast is putting to rest long-ignored possessions reminiscent of his wife Helen's tragic death, only to make a stunning - and dreadful - discovery. Helen had been mauled by an unusually large and vicious lion while they were big game hunting in Africa. But now, Pendergast learns that her rifle-her only protection from the beast-had been deliberately loaded with blanks. Who could have wanted Helen dead...and why?

Intelligent, spooky thriller

Preston and Child never miss a beat. In fact, with each outing they seem to improve, don't they? "Fever Dream" tells us another exciting story in th..Show More »e Agent Pendergast series. With each episode, Preston and Child always find some primal human phobia to tap into. Frequently, they take us underground, into dark tunnels; but this time they bring us into a Louisiana swamp, teeming with alligators, bugs, and snakes. Even more than the scare factor, Preston and Child triumph with intelligent, well-researched, scientifically plausible plots. Like Sherlock Holmes, Pendergast seems to know everything needed to solve the most arcane riddles; and, like James Bond, he can wield the weapons needed to punish the bad guys. In this case, he unearths the deadly secret that had gotten his beloved wife murdered twelve years before. Then he issues the bad guys their belated just deserts. Rene Auberjonois does a good job of reading "Fever Dream," giving each character a unique voice. I don't know exactly how to classify the Preston/Child thrillers -- they contain elements of horror, techno, sci-fi, adventure, and mystery -- but any fan of any of those genres will love "Fever Dream." (By the way -- explaining the title would give away the plot; so you will just have to listen to the audiobook in order to get it.)

Cold Vengeance

Devastated by the discovery that his wife, Helen, was murdered, Special Agent Pendergast must have retribution. But revenge is not simple. As he stalks his wife's betrayers-a chase that takes him from the wild moors of Scotland to the bustling streets of New York City and the darkest bayous of Louisiana - he is also forced to dig further into Helen's past. And he is stunned to learn that Helen may have been a collaborator in her own murder.

Aloysius X. L. Pendergast

This is the eleventh Pendergast novel, the second of the 'Helen Pendergast' arc. Aloysius X. L. Pendergast is an albino F.B.I. special agent who is an..Show More » independently wealthy cross between Sherlock Holmes, James Bond and The Devil. His lineage is as dark and checkered as the mysteries he deftly runs to ground. He solves cases. Never mind that his methods are often incorrigible. His tenaciousness makes him a priceless ally and a disastrous enemy. His exploits have moved me from the edge of my seat to exclaiming uncontrollably in front of strangers to my embarrassment. Pendergast is doubtlessly the most exciting character in modern fiction. This volume and the arc in particular are not only among the best examples of Pendergast and Preston & Childs's work but an example of the best of the modern genre.

Two Graves

After his wife, Helen, is brazenly abducted before his eyes, Special Agent Pendergast furiously pursues the kidnappers, chasing them across the country and into Mexico. But then, things go terribly, tragically wrong; the kidnappers escape; and a shattered Pendergast retreats to his New York apartment and shuts out the world. But when a string of bizarre murders erupts across several Manhattan hotels, NYPD Lieutenant D'Agosta asks his friend Pendergast for help.

Whiplash from the emotional rollercaster

Everyone you care about shows up in the conclusion of this riveting trilogy. From the first chapters, you are thrown left and right from one event to..Show More » the next. You barely recover from a harrowing drop to only experience a jolt up then down as the plot spirals twists your emotional gut like a taffy puller. This Prendergast novel is far and away among the best. This is Lincoln and Child’s second trilogy within the Prendergast series. The first one, starting with Brimstone and ending with Book of the Dead, was fabulous. This trilogy, starting with Fever Dreams is even better -- you can believe it.

I give outstanding marks to Rene Auberjonis, the voice of series. His steady guiding tone makes the story seamless and enjoyable as always.

One of the best things about the Prendergast series is all of the characters are multi-dimensional. This trilogy humanizes Prendergast is a way that was badly needed. Good job authors in anticipating the needs from your audience. I have come to know these characters and enjoy seeing how they evolve. It’s hard to believe that the authors were able to get so much backstory into this action packed plot. I warn you, you won’t always get what you want, but as the song goes, you’ll get what you need. Two Graves a must, must, listen!

White Fire: Agent Pendergast, Book 13

Special Agent Pendergast arrives at an exclusive Colorado ski resort to rescue his protégée, Corrie Swanson, from serious trouble with the law. His sudden appearance coincides with the first attack of a murderous arsonist who - with brutal precision - begins burning down multimillion-dollar mansions with the families locked inside. After springing Corrie from jail, Pendergast learns she made a discovery while examining the bones of several miners who were killed 150 years earlier by a rogue grizzly bear.

A Grand Slam Tale of Terror

I have been hoping to learn more about Corrie Swanson. Remember, we met Corrie in Still Life with Crows (book 4). Back then she had an abusive mothe..Show More »r and no future. Pendergast took her under his wing and placed her in boarding school. She has been in and out of novels ever since. In this novel she is grown and attending John Jay College and play the central role throughout the novel.

Oscar Wilde and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (in the 1800s) setup the intrigue; and, before you even begin Chapter 1 you are hooked and titillated with some unknown ‘story of revulsion.’ Preston and Child perform their usual excellence in descriptive phase and dialog. I simply love the how they place you in the scene.

This is book 13 of the series and comes after the latest trilogy 10-12 which was heart wrenching and left many issues unresolved. Rene Auberjonis narrates the novel in his usual excellence. He has been the voice of this series since book 8 and continues to deliver.

This book is a must read. If you are new to the series, I encourage you to read Still Life with Crows first to get a good introduction to Corrie. Though you can jump straight to this novel because it does stand on its own. This is one of my most favorite series and I cannot recommend it more highly. For us Pendergast lovers, all I have to say is ‘He is back!’

Blue Labyrinth

A long-buried family secret resurfaces when one of Aloysius Pendergast's most implacable enemies shows up on his doorstep as a murdered corpse. The mystery has all the hallmarks of the perfect murder, save for an enigmatic clue: a piece of turquoise lodged in the stomach of the deceased. The gem leads Pendergast to an abandoned mine on the shore of California's desolate Salton Sea, which in turn propels him on a journey of discovery deep into his family's sinister past.

Twists and Tuns in the Pendergast Family Tree

This novel opens with a surprise on Pendergast's doorstep. This novel explores the Pendergast tree and dig into his history. I liked this aspect. I ..Show More »like that Constance green is back in the picture. The whole series is a modern day Sherlock Holmes series of stories (with many different Watsons). Rene Auberjonis is the long time narrator and does an outstanding performance.

If you have not read any of these novels, you really have a great deal of work ahead of you. I love these novels because they are heavy on thrill and very light on blood and gore. I recommend you read this latest, more of the Pendergast story is always interesting.